NCUVO Senior Scientific Software Engineer

University of Vermont; Burlington (VT); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Vermont seeks a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead the computational backbone for a new high-throughput volume electron microscopy observatory. You will architect scalable CPU/GPU workflows, integrate open-source tools, and develop production-grade software for challenging connectomics datasets.

As a senior contributor reporting to the NCUVO Director, you will collaborate with national partners and lead technical events like hackathons, ensuring robust, testable

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, computer science, or related field, with 10+ years in scientific software.
• Experience managing and processing large microscopy datasets (100 TB to 1 PB).
• Expertise in modular production software for research needs.
• Experience with high-performance/distributed computing and optimized runtimes.
• Advanced programming in Python and at least one compiled language in Linux.
• Experience with ML and image processing; capable with frontier AI models.
• Ability to work autonomously and coordinate across groups.
• Mentorship or leadership in collaborative technical development.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of scalable CPU/GPU workflows for htvEM observatory.
• Architect, deploy, integrate and sustain modular pipeline components.
• Evaluate open-source tools and develop custom software as needed.
• Establish engineering practices, validation, version control, testing, and reproducible workflows.
• Collaborate with partners at UVM, NCMIR, UCSD, and SDSC.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Linux

Parallel computing

Machine learning

Data processing

Software engineering

Profiling & optimization

Education

PhD in engineering/computational science

10+ years in scientific software engineering

Tools

Python

C/C++

MATLAB

Linux environment

GPU/CPU workflows

Version control & CI

Job description

NCUVO Senior Scientific Software Engineer

Position Details

Posting Summary: The National Connectomics and Ultrastructure Volume Observatory (NCUVO) seeks a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead development of the computational backbone for a new, NSF-funded high-throughput volume electron microscopy (htvEM) observatory. This role will connect advanced microscopy with petabyte-scale distributed computing, machine learning, visualization, and data stewardship to make complex connectomics and ultrastructure datasets usable by a broad research community. The successful candidate will architect and optimize scalable CPU/GPU workflows; evaluate and integrate open-source tools; develop new software when existing solutions are insufficient; establish rigorous engineering and validation practices for both manual and frontier model-based software development; and collaborate with scientific and computing partners at UVM and nationally. This is a senior individual-contributor role for an expert who can translate emerging research methods into dependable production systems, and convene collaborative technical activities such as NCUVO hackathons. The position will report directly to the NCUVO Director and will have functional supervision of technical staff. The successful candidate will be a recognized expert in the field who is expected to liaise with external partners in the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR), the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC), and with developers of open-source software components used in the NCUVO pipeline.

Minimum Qualifications

• * PhD in engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, computational science, data science, neuroscience, physical science, or a closely related field, and at least 10 years of related experience in scientific software engineering, research-computing, microscopy data processing, or an equivalent combination of advanced education and relevant experience.
• * Expert knowledge and at least ten years of experience managing and processing large microscopy datasets in the approximately 100-terabyte to 1-petabyte range using large-scale distributed computing environments. Experience with electron microscopy or volume electron microscopy is strongly preferred.
• * Demonstrated experience independently architecting, developing, deploying, integrating, and sustaining modular production software and custom pipeline components for specialized research needs across complex computing environments.
• * Demonstrated experience with high-performance or distributed computing, including parallel CPU and GPU workflows, and with profiling and optimizing runtime, memory, storage, input/output, and network performance for very large datasets.
• * Advanced programming experience in Python and at least one compiled or numerical language such as C, C++, or MATLAB in a Linux environment. Experience with collaborative software-engineering practices, including version control, testing, code review, documentation, release management, and reproducible workflows.
• * Demonstrated experience with machine learning and image processing, including alignment, registration, segmentation, feature detection, or comparable computer-vision problems.
• * Demonstrated ability to use frontier AI models effectively and responsibly to support development of maintainable, reliable, testable, and extensible software or pipeline components.
• * Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging software from the research community; reproduce or validate relevant results; assess fitness for scientific and production use; and deploy appropriate components within a supported software environment.
• * Demonstrated ability to investigate and resolve undefined, highly complex technical problems; work autonomously with high-level direction; establish technical plans and standards; and coordinate and influence work across institutional, scientific, technical, vendor, and external partner groups.
• * Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, guidance, coaching, or mentoring to staff, students, or other contributors. Experience planning and facilitating collaborative technical-development events such as hackathons, code sprints, or design workshops. Effective written and oral communication skills.

Desirable Qualifications

Extensive experience with serial-section or volume electron microscopy, connectomics, petabyte-scale scientific imaging, ground-truth annotation and model evaluation, scientific visualization, research publications, open-source scientific software, commercial segmentation services, and multi-institutional team science.

Anticipated Pay Range

$160,000-$175,000

Special Conditions

A probationary period may be required, Contingent on continued funding, Occasional evening and/or weekends required (if non-exempt position, may result in overtime), This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy, Background Check required for this position

Employment Status & Union

FLSA: Exempt

Union Position: Yes, UVMSU

Job Details

Job Location: Burlington, Vermont, United States

Job Open Date: 10/27/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Our Common Ground Statement

The University of Vermont is a welcoming, educationally purposeful community committed to creating an inclusive environment that embraces intellectual diversity and global perspectives. We seek to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct. Members of the University of Vermont community embrace and advance the values of Our Common Ground: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice, and Responsibility. Staff play a critical role in this effort and the successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to UVM’s mission and advancing Our Common Ground values through the execution of their job duties.

Position Information

Position Title: Systems Engineering PC5 X

Posting Number: S6377PO

Department: Neurological Sciences/55800

Position Number: 00028035

Percent of Full-Time: 1.0

Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE: 37.5

Term (months per year): 12

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae

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